When people ask your children to “get an education”, they tell you only half the truth.  What they really mean is to get just enough education to give manpower for your society.

Get a high school diploma, at least.  Without that, you are occupationally dead, unless your name happens to be George Washington or Thomas Edison and you can successfully stop study in primary schools.

Get a college degree, if possible.  With a BA, you should start to find a job.  You have to put on the brakes now.  If you do go for a master’s degree, make sure it is an MBA and only from a first – class university.  Otherwise, the famous law of diminishing (報(bào)酬遞減率) begins to work.

Do you know, for example, that long – distance truck drivers make more money a year than full professors? Yes, each driver was paid $28,000 in 1997 while a full professor managed to get $27,930.

A PhD is the highest degree you can get, but except in a few specialized fields such as physics or chemistry, where the degree can quickly be turned to industrial or commercial aim, you are facing a not very bright future.  There are more PhDs unemployed in this country than in any other part of the world by far.

If you became a PhD in English or history or political science or languages or – worst of all – in philosophy（哲學(xué)）, you take the risk of becoming over – educated for our national demands.

Thousands of PhDs are selling shoes, driving taxis, waiting on tables and filling out applications month after month, and then may be taking a job in some high school or college with the pay much less than a door–keeper makes.

1. According to the writer, society expects education to turn out people who will       .

       A. raise their payment                  B. get employed

       C. become specialized in some field             D. meet the demands as a source of manpower

2. Long–distance truck drivers make more money a year than full professors because         .

       A. the famous law of diminishing functions

       B. long – distance truck drivers only get a high school diploma

       C. full professors are PhDs in English or history

       D. long – distance truck drivers work harder than full professors

3. If you don’t want to be occupationally dead, you       .

       A. should look for a job in a primary school      

B. must at least get a high school diploma

       C. have to get as high an education as possible

D. should try to avoid being overeducated in philosophy

4. The underlined phrase “put on the brakes” in the 3 rd paragraph means “      ”.

       A. stop learning for a high degree            B. take up a master’s degree at once

       C. go on studying in a first – class university   D. find any interesting job

5. What can we know from the passage?

       A. The higher education you get, the more money you will earn.

       B. There are more PhDs than the society demands.

       C. Neither George Washington nor Edison received formal education.

       D. If you are specialized in physics, you can’t get a good job easily.

練習(xí)冊(cè)系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Can people change their skin colour without suffering like pop king Michael Jackson? Perhaps yes. Scientists have found the gene that determines skin colour.

The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 per cent of Europeans. The other is found in 93 to 100 per cent of Africans, researchers at Pennsylvania State University report in the latest issue of Science.

Scientists have changed the colour of a dark-striped zebrafish to uniform gold by inserting a version of the pigment(色素) gene into a young fish. As with humans, zebrafish skin colour is determined by pigment cells, which contain melanosomes(黑色素). The number, size and darkness of melanosomes per pigment cell determines skin colour.

It appears that, like the golden zebrafish, light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation(變異) in the gene for melanosome production. This results in less pigmented skin.

However, Keith Cheng, leader of the research team, points out that the mutation is different in human and zebrafish genes.

Humans acquired dark skin in Africa about 1.5 million years ago to protect bodies from ultra-violet rays of the sun(太陽光紫外線), which can cause skin cancer.

But when modern humans leave Africa to live in northern latitudes, they need more sunlight on their skin to produce vitamin D. So the related gene changes, according to Cheng.

Asians have the same version of the gene as Africans, so they probably acquired their light skin through the action of some other gene that affects skin colour, said Cheng.

The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer. It also could lead to research into ways to change skin colour without damaging it like chemical treatment did on Michael Jackson.

The passage mainly tells us that ________.

  A. people can not change their skin colour without any pain

  B. the new discovery could lead to search into ways to change skin colour safely

  C. pop king Michael Jackson often changed his skin colour as he liked

  D. scientists have found out that people’s skin colour is determined by the gene

It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

  A. nowadays people who want to change their skin colour have to suffer a lot from the damage caused by the chemical  treatment

  B. Europeans and Africans have the same gene

  C. the new discovery could help to find medical treatments for skin cancer

  D. there are two kinds of genes

Scientists have done an experiment on a dark-striped zebra fish in order to ________.

  A. find the different genes of humans’

  B. prove the humans’ skin colour is determined by the pigment gene

  C. find out the reason why the Africans’ skin colour is dark

  D. find out the ways of changing peopl’s skin colour

The writer’s attitude towards the discovery is ________.

  A. neutral                      B. negative                   C. positive                    D. indifferent

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Can people change their skin colour without suffering like pop king Michael Jackson? Perhaps yes. Scientists have found the gene that determines skin colour.

The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 per cent of Europeans. The other is found in 93 to 100 per cent of Africans, researchers at Pennsylvania State University report in the latest issue of Science.

Scientists have changed the colour of a dark-striped zebrafish to uniform gold by inserting a version of the pigment(色素) gene into a young fish. As with humans, zebrafish skin colour is determined by pigment cells, which contain melanosomes(黑色素). The number, size and darkness of melanosomes per pigment cell determines skin colour.

It appears that, like the golden zebrafish, light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation(變異) in the gene for melanosome production. This results in less pigmented skin.

However, Keith Cheng, leader of the research team, points out that the mutation is different in human and zebrafish genes.

Humans acquired dark skin in Africa about 1.5 million years ago to protect bodies from ultra-violet rays of the sun(太陽光紫外線), which can cause skin cancer.But when modern humans leave Africa to live in northern latitudes, they need more sunlight on their skin to produce vitamin D. So the related gene changes, according to Cheng.Asians have the same version of the gene as Africans, so they probably acquired their light skin through the action of some other gene that affects skin colour, said Cheng.

The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer. It also could lead to research into ways to change skin colour without damaging it like chemical treatment did on Michael Jackson.

The passage mainly tells us that ________.

  A. people can not change their skin colour without any pain

  B. the new discovery could lead to search into ways to change skin colour safely

  C. pop king Michael Jackson often changed his skin colour as he liked

  D. scientists have found out that people’s skin colour is determined by the gene

It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

  A. nowadays people who want to change their skin colour have to suffer a lot from the damage caused by the chemical  treatment                                 B. Europeans and Africans have the same gene

  C. the new discovery could help to find medical treatments for skin cancer    D. there are two kinds of genes

Scientists have done an experiment on a dark-striped zebra fish in order to ________.

  A. find the different genes of humans’

  B. prove the humans’ skin colour is determined by the pigment gene

  C. find out the reason why the Africans’ skin colour is dark  D. find out the ways of changing peopl’s skin colour

The reason why Europeans are light-skinned is probably that ________.

  A. they are born light-skinned people

  B. light-skinned Europeans have mutation in the gen for melanosome production

  C. they have fewer activities outside          D. they pay much attention to protecting their skin

The writer’s attitude towards the discovery is ________.

  A. neutral                      B. negative                   C. positive                    D. indifferent

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Can people change their skin colour without suffering like pop king Michael Jackson? Perhaps yes. Scientists have found the gene that determines skin colour.

The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 per cent of Europeans. The other is found in 93 to 100 per cent of Africans, researchers at Pennsylvania State University report in the latest issue of Science.

Scientists have changed the colour of a dark-striped zebrafish to uniform gold by inserting a version of the pigment(色素) gene into a young fish. As with humans, zebrafish skin colour is determined by pigment cells, which contain melanosomes(黑色素). The number, size and darkness of melanosomes per pigment cell determines skin colour.

It appears that, like the golden zebrafish, light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation(變異) in the gene for melanosome production. This results in less pigmented skin.

However, Keith Cheng, leader of the research team, points out that the mutation is different in human and zebrafish genes.

Humans acquired dark skin in Africa about 1.5 million years ago to protect bodies from ultra-violet rays of the sun(太陽光紫外線), which can cause skin cancer.

But when modern humans leave Africa to live in northern latitudes, they need more sunlight on their skin to produce vitamin D. So the related gene changes, according to Cheng.

Asians have the same version of the gene as Africans, so they probably acquired their light skin through the action of some other gene that affects skin colour, said Cheng.

The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer. It also could lead to research into ways to change skin colour without damaging it like chemical treatment did on Michael Jackson.

51. The passage mainly tells us that ________.

  A. people can not change their skin colour without any pain

  B. the new discovery could lead to search into ways to change skin colour safely

  C. pop king Michael Jackson often changed his skin colour as he liked

  D. scientists have found out that people’s skin colour is determined by the gene

52. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

  A. nowadays people who want to change their skin colour have to suffer a lot from the damage caused by the chemical  treatment

  B. Europeans and Africans have the same gene

  C. the new discovery could help to find medical treatments for skin cancer

  D. there are two kinds of genes

53. Scientists have done an experiment on a dark-striped zebra fish in order to ________.

  A. find the different genes of humans’

  B. prove the humans’ skin colour is determined by the pigment gene

  C. find out the reason why the Africans’ skin colour is dark

  D. find out the ways of changing peopl’s skin colour

54. The reason why Europeans are light-skinned is probably that ________.

  A. they are born light-skinned people

  B. light-skinned Europeans have mutation in the gen for melanosome production

  C. they have fewer activities outside

  D. they pay much attention to protecting their skin

55. The writer’s attitude towards the discovery is ________.

  A. neutral                      B. negative                   C. positive                    D. indifferent

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：20102011學(xué)年福建省四地六校高一下學(xué)期第二次月考英語試題 題型：閱讀理解

Can people change their skin colour without suffering like pop king Michael Jackson? Perhaps yes. Scientists have found the gene that determines skin colour.

The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 per cent of Europeans. The other is found in 93 to 100 per cent of Africans, researchers at Pennsylvania State University report in the latest issue of Science.

Scientists have changed the colour of a dark-striped zebrafish to uniform gold by inserting a version of  the pigment(色素) gene into a young fish. As with humans, zebrafish skin colour is determined by pigment cells, which contain melanosomes(黑色素). The number, size and darkness of melanosomes per pigment cell determines skin colour.

It appears that, like the golden zebrafish, light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation(變異) in the gene for melanosome production. This results in less pigmented skin.

However, Keith Cheng, leader of the research team, points out that the mutation is dif ferent in human and zebrafish genes.

Humans acquired dark skin in Africa about 1.5 million years ago to protect bodies from ultra-violet rays of the sun(太陽光紫外線), which can cause skin cancer.

But when modern humans leave Africa to live in northern latitudes, they need more sunlight on their skin to produce vit amin D. So the related gene changes, according to Cheng.

Asians have the same version of the gene as Africans, so they pr obably acquired their light skin through the action of some other gene that affects skin colour, said Cheng.

The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer. It also could lead to research into ways to change skin colour without damaging it like chemical treatment did on Michael Jackson.

 

1.. The passage mainly tells us that ________.

  A. people can not change their skin colour without any pain

  B. the new discovery could lead to search into ways to change skin colour safely

  C. pop king Michael Jackson often changed his skin colour as he liked

  D. scientists have found out that people’s skin colour is determined by the gene

2.. Scientists have done an experiment on  a dark-striped zebra fish in order to ________.

  A. find the  different genes of humans’

  B. prove the humans’ skin colour is determined by the pigment gene

  C. find out the reason why the Africans’ skin colour is dark

  D. find out the ways of changing peopl’s skin colour

3.. The reason why Europeans are light-skinned is probably that ________.

  A. they are born light-skinned people

  B. light-skinned Europeans have mutation in the gene for melanosome production

  C. they have fewer activities outside

  D. they pay much attention to protecting their skin

 

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：安徽省期末題 題型：閱讀理解

閱讀理解
     That cold January night, I was growing sick of my life in San Francisco. There I was walking home 
at one in the morning after a tiring practice at the theater. With opening night only a week away, I was 
still learning my lines. I was having trouble dealing with my part-time job at the bank and my acting at 
night at the same time. 
     As I walked, I thought seriously about giving up both acting and San Francisco. City life had become 
too much for me. As I walked down empty streets under tall buildings, I felt very small and cold. I began 
running, both to keep warm and to keep away from any possible robbers. Very few people were still 
out except a few sad-looking homeless peopl e under blankets.
     About a block from my apartment, I heard a sound behind me. I turned quickly, half expecting to 
see someone with a knife or a gun. The street was empty. All I saw was a shining streetlight. Still, the 
noise had made me nervous, so I started to run faster. Not until I reached my apartment building and 
unlocked the door did I realize what the noise had been. It had been my wallet falling to the sidewalk.
     Suddenly I wasn't cold or tired any more. I ran out of the door and back to where I'd heard the 
noise. Although I searched the sidewalk anxiously for fifteen minutes, my wallet was nowhere to be found.
     Just as I was about to give up the search, I heard the garbage truck pull up to the sidewalk next to 
me. When a voice called from the inside , "Alisa Camacho?" I thought I was dreaming. How could this 
man know my name? The door opened, and out jumped a small red-haired man with an amused look 
in his eyes. "Is this what you're looking for?" he asked, holding up a small square shape.
     It was nearly 3 a.m. by the time I got into bed. I wouldn't get much sleep that night, but I had got my 
wallet back. I also had got back some enjoyment of city life. I realized that the city couldn't be a bad 
place as long as people were willing to help each other.
1.How did the writer feel when she was walking home after work?
A. Cold and sick                    
B. Lucky and hopeful
C. Satisfied and cheerful              
D. Disappointed and helpless
2.From the first paragraph, we learn that the writer was busy _____.
A. solving her problem at the bank      
B. getting used to the city life
C. learning acting in an evening school   
D. preparing for the first night show
3.On her way home the writer______.          
A. lost her wallet unknowingly
B. talked a lot with a garbage truck driver
C. was robbed of her wallet by a man with a knife  
D. found some homeless people following her
4.From the text, we can infer that the writer_____.
A. would stop working at night        
B. would stay on in San Francisco
C. would make friends with cleaners.   
D. would give up her job at the bank

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊(cè)答案